Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter (left) and Congressman Sander Levin kick off their participation in the SNAP Challenge at Ferndale Foods, Monday June 10, 2013. The challenge limits participants to spending $4.50 a day on food for a week and gives them a view of the struggle faced by millions of low-income Americans. (Oakland Press Photo:Vaughn Gurganian)

Could you get enough to eat for $4.50 a day? How about feeding a family of four for a week on a budget of only $126?

Some people, including elected officials, are going to try -- to a make a point.

Even though it's difficult for 47 million Americans to put enough food on the table with the federal subsidy of $4.50 a day given to low-income individuals, pending cuts could take another bite out of grocery budgets.

A monthly reduction of $25 to $30 is scheduled to kick in Nov. 1 for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and, last month another 10-year, $20 billion decrease was approved by a congressional committee in the House Farm Bill.

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In the meantime, politicians are getting a taste of how hard it is to survive on the current allotment of $31.50 a week. Ferndale Mayor David Coulter and Democratic Congressman Sander Levin announced at a press briefing that they are taking the SNAP Challenge this week.

"About 130,000 people in Oakland County get food assistance and I know a bunch of them are right here in Ferndale," Coulter said. "I asked myself: What can I do as the mayor of a small town to help stop these ridiculous cuts. I knew I had to bring more attention to this issue."

On Monday, he and Levin went to Ferndale Foods and shopped for items low in cost and high in nutrition. About 20 percent of the store's customers use bridge cards, which are issued for food assistance.

The pair considered costs per ounce, fresh versus frozen, and read labels. They each had to bypass their favorite breakfasts. No Raisin Bran for the congressman or individual packets of flavored oatmeal for the mayor. Levin went with an off-brand cereal with raisins and Coulter picked out a tall container of no-name oats.

"I rush in the morning so I'm afraid I'll skip making it," Coulter said as he decided between the $2.79 container of oats that will last him all month and the $4.19 box of a few single servings.

In the checkout lane, he realized the importance of price over convenience. As the tally rose, Coulter mulled what item he might have to put back from his cart. It was filled with the oats, a carton of orange juice, eight eggs, a loaf of bread, some pasta and sauce, hot dogs, peanut butter, baked beans, green beans, a can of corn, some peaches and a bag of frozen strawberries.

Coulter had passed on jelly because of the expense and sugar content.

"I can put the strawberries on my peanut butter sandwich and on top of the oatmeal," he said.

Coulter's bill came to $30.85, almost enough to add one sweet treat. He wanted to buy a bag of M&M's, but it cost 89 cents.

Levin spent just over $20, saving some of his SNAP funds for milk, peanut butter and margarine when he returns to Washington, D.C. Those items aren't allowed on planes. The congressman stocked up on pastas and cans of tuna.

"When my parents went out on Saturday nights, my sister, Hannah, Carl and I had Kraft dinners with tuna," he said.

The comfort food of his childhood will be more than a Saturday special this week as Levin and Coulter learn how hard it is avoid hunger and afford nutrition. While many households struggle with those challenges week after week and month after month, Levin said politicians are arguing about whether SNAP money is used properly.

He said it is.

"Some taxpayer money goes to make sure we track the use as best we can," Levin said.

Coulter said he usually sticks to issues of keeping streetlights on and garbage picked up, but he had to speak out about the pending cuts that will hurt seniors and working families.

"I was raised to believe that we will be judged by what we do for the least of our brothers," Coulter said. "If we're going to be a great country and a great city, then we need to take care of those with the greatest needs."

If the House Farm Bill passes, it would end SNAP assistance, formerly issued as food stamps, to nearly 2 million people and an estimated 210,000 children would lose access to free school lunches and breakfasts.

"I'm sorry the mayor and congressman will be hungry for a week," said Forgotten Harvest President and CEO Susan Goodell. "But we're grateful the people who live on a minimum of sustenance will have a voice."

Also taking part in the SNAP Challenge is Macomb County Commissioner Toni Moceri, who released a statement saying "this is an opportunity to stand with other public officials and call attention to the devastating effects the Farm Bill could have on an already stressed situation for some of our residents."